Coffee maker



lo M, i950 R. SMITH 2,496,237

COFFEE MAKER Filed Jan 10, 1946 Patented Jun. 31, 1950 COFFEE DIAKER Roland L. Smith, Belmont, Mesa,

assignor to Nuproducts Corporation, Cambridge, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application January 10, 1946, Serlal No. 640,182 3 Claims. (01. 99284) This invention relates to cofiee mahng machines of the type wherein an upper infusion vessel and a lower water-heating vessel are removably assembled to one another by telescoping one into the other.

In machines of this type, it is customary to apply a gasket of rubber or equivalent material to the mouth of the lower vessel into which the lower portion of the upper vessel is pressed from above to thereby connect the two vessels togather.

The main object of my invention is to provide a gasket which when pushed completely down into the mouth of the lower vessel will operate in the conventional manner to produce "vacuum" coliee but which optionally may be pushed only partially down into-the vessel so as to enable a drip" coffee to be made without the creation of any vacuum. Thus, when a properly shaped upper vessel is used in connection with my gasket and the proper types of filters are supplied, a duplex coffee maker results.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear as this description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawing wherein I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention in connection with machines for making ooflee by either the vacuum or the drip process:

Figure 1 shows, in vertical section, a coffee maker for making vacuum cofl'ee, equipped with my improved gasket.

Figure 2 is a similar view oi a coffee maker for making drip" coffee.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the gasket shown in Figures 1 and 2, removed from the assembly, and

Figure 4 shows a modification;

My coffee maker comprises a lower waterheating vessel in provided at its mouth with an internal gasket ll of rubber or other suitable material, and an upper infusion vessel i2 removably assembled to said lower vessel by being pressed from above into said gasket.

The upper vessel i2 comprises an open-top bowl-like portion l3 terminating at its lower end in a tubular extension of reduced diameter.

Vessel ill at its mouth'is iormedyto receive the usual clamping band it to which handle is is attached, and vessel II at the juncture of bowl l3 with tubular portion II is formed to provide an outwardly bulged annular convexity ii for engagement with gasket, ll.

Gasket ll comprises a, ring-like member of substantial vertical dimension. Beneath its upby a drawstring 26,

per edge, which is beveled, the gasket is internally concaved as at I I to receive convexity ll of vessel l2; externally, it is shaped to provide an annular concavity or seat I! for the inwardly bulged annular portion or convexity 20 adjacent the mouth of vessel It. Beneath such concavity, the gasket extends as a slightly tapered skirt l8 and is provided with one or more holes 22, preferably spaced slightly below the bevel 2| defining the upper edge of the skirt it.

Instead of using a hole or holes 22, I may go absubstantially vertical slot or slots 22d (see In making vacuum cofi'ee (see Figure 1), the lower end of the tubular extension I4 is closed by a detachable filter 23 which converts said extension into a reservoir for the charge of ground coffee C. Filter 23 may take the :form of a disc of cloth or other suitable material having a rim 24 to be pressed over the bottom flange 25 of extension I l and fastened thereon the free end or ends of which may be fastened oil by winding around the neck of a knob or like projection 21 formed on extension ll externally thereof. After gasket II is assembled to vessel I2, vessel I2 is inserted into vessel l U with the concaved seat I9 01 gasket II, and particularly the place between bevel 2| and the holes, in tight engagement with the convexity 20 of said vessel.

In making drip" coffee (see Fig. 2)- a filter cone 28 of suitable material is substituted for filter disc 28 within vessel l2. Gasket I I however, is so assembled, on vessel ID that its holes 22 are vented to the atmosphere above the lip of said vessel rather than being sealed by the convexity 20, as in Fig. 1, and hence there is no sealing effect between the two vessels It and I2.

In other words, by simply regulating the distance that the gasket is pushed down into the mouth of the lower vessel the same gasket may be effectively used for making either drip or "vacuum cofi'ee.

In either case, however, the gasket fulfills its function of removably connecting the two vessels. Furthermore, in the case of vacuum coii'ee maker of Fig. 1, the holes 22 of said gasket also permit the vacuum to be more readily broken when the codes making operation is completed by slightly tilting the vessels relative to one another so as to flex the material of the gasket and destroy the sealing contact.

Various modifications in design and arrangement may obviously be resorted to within the 3 4 scope of my invention as donned by the appended 2. The structure of claim 1 in which the skirt claims. I of the gasket is tapered.

Having thus described my invention, what I 3. The structure or claim 1 in which the perfoelaim as new and desire to secure by Letters ration or perforations are in the form of a sub- Patent is: '6 stantially vertical slot or slots.

1. A duplex coffee maker for making either BOWL m vacuum or drip ooflee, comprising a lower vessel. an upper vessel, and a gasket 01 flexible material REFERENCES CITED to be positioned at two optional distances within the mouth of the lower vessel for supporting the 10 i 2212225 55. erences are of m the upper vessel in superimposed relationship to the lower vessel, said gasket having a depending skirt UNITED STATE-5 PATENTS provided with at least one perforation which Number Name p g when vacuum coflee is being made is disp at 1,967,983 Wolcott July 24, 1934 such an elevation relative to the l wer v ssel a 15 2,133,178 Sieling Oct. 11, 1938 to be sealed by a part of said vessel and when d ip 2,230,901 Nevins web. 4 1941 ooilee is being madeis disposed at such an eleva- 2,301,917 Johnson Nov. 17', 1942 tion relative to said vessel 8-8 to be Vented :0 i,38l,104 Burnham Aug. 7, 1945 mosphere. 

